IND vs SA | Ashish Nehra questions Rishabh Pant's captaincy in the 2nd T20I

Former India pacer turned coach Ashish Nehra has expressed his doubts over Rishabh Pant's captaincy, more specifically, his decision to hold back Axar Patel in the second T20I against South Africa on June 12. But, the left-arm spinner came to bowl in the 12th over and bowled a solitary over against a well-set Heinrich Klassen, giving away 19 runs. And the Proteas eventually chased down 149 comfortably and took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

However, South Africa were reeling at 29-3 after the end of the powerplay after Bhuvneshwar Kumar's stunning spell. Yuzvendra Chahal was then introduced into the attack when both Klaasen and Temba Bavuma tried to build a partnership, and Axar Patel was not given an over.

The newly-appointed captain Rishabh Pant gave Hardik Pandya and Harshal Patel an additional over, whereas when Axar Patel came to ball, the batters were well set, and it was not tough to take on him too.

While talking about that, Nehra said on Cricbuzz: "Changes to the playing XI depends on the conditions in Vizag. Rishabh Pant also needs to take a look, he held back Axar Patel for so long. There were two right-hand batters at that time. I don't see any reason why Axar Patel was not given an over at that time."

However, while batting on 31 off 24 deliveries at the end of the 11th over, Klaasen took on Axar Patel. The wicket-keeper batter scored two fours and a six off the spinner while scoring his match-winning 81-run knock at the Barabati Stadium.

While saying that reading the game is important in such crunch situations, former wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel said during the same interaction: "Reading the game becomes very important in such situations, especially in this format. Klassen was struggling initially and he had to change gears. Although he played spin really well today, there was a chance to bring in Axar Patel against him."

However, Rishabh Pant has now faced two defeats in his two appearances as Indian captain. And the team is now 0-2 in the series after losing the first match in Delhi on June 9 as well. It is also noteworthy that, in the first T20I in Delhi, Rishabh Pant used five bowlers in the powerplay while defending a massive total of 212, whereas he used three pacers in patches here.

Young pacer Avesh Khan's spell was broken after the fourth over, and it was given to the all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also bowled his three overs in the powerplay along with a break in the middle. While talking about how Pant should have given Avesh Khan the fourth over instead of Pandya, Nehra shared his opinion.

"Avesh Khan bowled a good first over, but his spell was halted and Pandya was brought in for the fourth over. Some players think that the batters get familiar with the bowler and because of that, they change the bowler. Any bowler would wish, upon seeing that the new ball is moving around, to bowl one more over in that conditions", Nehra concluded:

Team India will take on the same opponents in the third T20I on June 14 (Tuesday) in Vishakapatnam.